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To walk through a forest of cedars is to awaken the senses: the creak of ancient branches fills your ears; the sharp scent of their bark fills your lungs. These iconic trees have played a pivotal role—in ways utilitarian, sustaining, and sacred—for many Native American and First Nations tribes since time immemorial. Ts’msyen/Tsimshian artist and weaver Kandi McGilton has taken inspiration from traditional cedar weaving designs for her Ancestral Echoes Wool Blanket. Combining designs she uses in weaving with naturally-inspired colors, Kandi has created a wool blanket that feels both timeless and contemporary.
"The box-within-a-box design is an ancient Ts’msyen plaiting pattern found on many large cedar bark mats," shares Kandi. "There’s a misconception that plaiting is easy; and it can actually be quite difficult. This pattern isn’t easy to make perfectly square while weaving, but when it’s done right, it’s worth the effort." Kandi's design incorporates a clever twist that connects the design to the cedar boxes Kandi weaves. "Up close, this pattern looks like two different designs. However, it’s the front and back of the box-within-a-box pattern—just laid out flat and side by side. When this pattern is arranged like this and it repeats, if you step back it’s almost like an optical illusion, where you can see layers of boxes stacked on top of each other."
The forest-inspired colors Kandi chose for her Ancestral Echoes Wool Blanket are highly-intentional. "The tan and green are a nod to the natural colors of cedar trees," says Kandi. "A lot of the old plaiting colors were colors that could be created by natural things: iron to create black, or alder to create red. I like that today we can use whatever colors we like while still using patterns our people used thousands of years ago."
As an artist, Kandi is well known for both her beaded devilfish bags and Annette Island cedar bark weaving. "The endangered and unique Annette Island basketry style, preserved and taught to me by renowned Haida weaver Iilskyalas (Dr. Delores Churchill), features an intricate and visually striking element called “false embroidery”," says Kandi. "I also apprenticed with Haida weaver Holly Churchill, and I teach Annette Island weaving when possible."
Thank you for supporting Inspired Natives®, not "Native-inspired."
5% of all blanket sales support the Inspired Natives® Award for emerging arts entrepreneurs.
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